I used a personal day to play golf and my boss found out — and got so angry he said that if I ever do that again, he’ll fire me! Can’t I use my personal days to do anything that I want?

Yes, usually you can use your paid time off for whatever you want — unless the time is specifically designated for one purpose, such as “sick days.” Practicing your fake cough when you call in sick from the back nine is lying and definitely subject to disciplinary action and worthy of your boss’ wrath. But if it is just nonspecific paid time off, then how you use it should be your business. I’m not sure why you’d waste a perfectly good day playing the most frustrating game in the world when you could be boating or fishing, but to each his own!

I’ve developed a romantic interest in someone who reports to me. I think she feels the same, but obviously we’re both being cautious about declaring ourselves. Assuming I’m right and we enter into a relationship, since we’re both single, consenting adults, can either of us get into trouble?

Ahh my friend, the romantic in me wants to believe that Dean Martin should be singing in the background: “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that’s amore!” If true — and it’s not that you’re just a lecherous boss in summer heat — and you mutually want this, then one of you is going to have to find a different job. Having a personal relationship with a direct report makes it impossible for you to manage that person objectively, and creates an uncomfortable environment for everyone else. And even if you’re both discreet, if you are found out, you both could lose your jobs. Plus, if the relationship goes bad — and chances are it may, as most love interests often play out like telenovelas — it might get messy and awkward and lead to you both losing your jobs anyway. Whatever you do, just make sure it is mutual, because if you advance and you’re wrong . . . well, you’ll want to crawl into a pencil sharpener!